Filament feeding and storage device

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a device for feeding a filament from a supply thereof to a machine wherein said filament may be used for knitting, weaving or spooling. A storage drum is fixedly mounted at one end thereof to a frame member. The filament is guided in a first direction, from a supply thereof to a position adjacent said one end of the drum, where it is wound about the drum to form a plurality of windings which advance in a second direction, opposite to said first direction, toward the other end of the drum. The filament is drawn off the drum in said second direction to the other end of the drum, where it reverses direction and travels through an internal passage in the drum, in said first direction, and through an aperture in the frame member, toward the machine requiring said filament, whereby the device operates as a storage feeder. Alternately, the filament may be unwound from the drum at the same rate as it is wound in which case the device operates as a positive feeder.

"United States Patent 91 Deniega et al.'

FILAMENT FEEDING AND STORAGE DEVICE lnventorszl Jose Castillo Deniega,Elmhurst;

Edward M. Tellerman, Woodmere,

both of NY.

Wesco Industries Corporation, Plainview, NY.

[73] Assignee:

[63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 184,527, Sept. 28,

I [52] US. Cl 242/4712, 242/4701, 66/132 R [51] Int. Cl. B6511 51/20[58] Field ofsear ch ..242/47.12,,47.0l,47.02,

[56] References Cited I UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,225,446 12/1965 Sarfatiet a1. 242/47.0l 3,411,548 11/1968 Pfarrwaller 242/47.12 X

3,419,225 12/1968 Rosen 242/47.I2 3,490,710 1/1970 Muhlhausler. 242/47013,549,299 12/1970 Rosen 242/47.12 3,606,975 9/1971 Rosen 242/47.123,637,149 1/1972 Frei 242/47.12

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 3/1971 Germany 242/47.12

1,191,197 4/1965 Germany 242/4701 Primary Examiner-Stanley N. GilreathAssistant Examiner-Milton S. Gerstein Attorney-Henry R. Lerner [57]ABSTRACT I There is disclosed a device for feeding a filament from asupply thereof to a machine wherein said filament may be used forknitting, weaving or spooling. A storage drum is fixedly mounted at oneend thereof to a frame member. The filament is guided in a firstdirection, from a supply thereof to a position adjacent said one end ofthe drum, where it is wound about the drum to form a plurality ofwindings which advance in a second direction, opposite to said firstdirection,

2 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures 1 Jan. 1, 1974 PAIENIE JM 1 1974 sum 1 or 4PATENTED H974 3,782,661

SHEET 3 IF 4 FIG. 5.

FILAMENT FEEDING AND STORAGE DEVICE CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATEDAPPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of ourapplication Ser. No. 184,527, filed Sept. 28, 1971.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION The present invention relates to filament oryarn stor age and feeding devices used in association with textileproducing apparatus, particularly knitting machines,

but relating as well to weaving and spooling apparatus.

In a knitting machine, the supply of yarn is in the form of a pluralityof yarn coneswith the yarn being drawn from the cone by the needles. Asyarn is drawn off the cone, it undergoes substantial variations intension .due tothe manner in which the yarn package is formed on thecone and unwound therefrom. F urthermore, the yarn supplied from any onecone is likely to be under different tension from that supplied to theneedles at the same time from any of the other cones, resulting in theproduction of goods which are nonuniform, inferior in quality, and oftenconsidered as being defective. Efforts have previouslybeen made toresolve the problems pointed out above byproviding an intermediate yarnstorage device disposed between the yarn cone and the needles. Examplesof such storage device are shown in US. Pat. Nos. 3,225,446 and3,419,225, each of which discloses the use of a drum of substantiallyuniform diameter which isrotated so as to tangentially wind apredetermined quantity of yarn thereon, which yarn is subsequentlywithdrawn axially fromthe drum. In this way all of the yarn from thecone isrewound around the uniform diameter storage drum andybeingwithdrawnaxially from the drum, the tension of the. yarn is reduced: toasnearzero as possible, withathe same condition simultaneouslyprevailingin all other yarns axially withdrawn, each from its ownstorage drum.

While said prior art storage devices constitute substantial improvement,they are not entirely free of deficiencies. More specifically, whiletheyarn tension condition" has beenmeasurably improved by the tangentialwinding about the rotating drum and axial withdrawing therefrom, newproblems have arisen which contribute to the production of less thanwholly uniform goods.

This isdue to the fact that the conditions under which the. yarn iswound onto and unwound from the storage feeder during the knittingprocess are continuously varying. For example, under one condition, theyarn is wound. onthe rotating storage drumat the same exact rate thatthe yarn is withdrawn, in which case thereis no twist impartedto-theyarn. Under another condition,

theyarniswithdrawn from the storage drum ata slower rate than that atwhich it is wound ontothestorage drum and in such conditionethere is atwist imparted yarn. in thesoppositedirection. Sinceduring the knitting.

processthese three conditions occur repeatedly, each yarn isfed at timeswith no twist, twist in onedirection, ortwist inthe oppositedirection,again causing theproduction' of goodswhich fall short of being entirelyuniform.

\ thereof, namely, the end adjacent Another drawback of prior artstorage feeders is that a relatively large motor is required since themotor drives the storage drum whose mass is not unsubstantial The priorart storage feeders have also proved to be less than entirely workablein other respects, including the manner in which the quantity of yarnwound onto the drum is controlled, the speed at which the drum can berotated, the manner in which the rotational power for winding the yarnonto the drum is provided, as well as the presence of otherdeficien-cieswhich affect the performance and cost thereof. 1

Some of the drawbacks described above have been eliminated by providinga storagefeeder wherein the storage drum is prevented from undergoingany significant rotation, with the yarn being tangentially wound ontothe storage drum by providing a yarn guide which rotates about thestorage drum. By so winding the yarn onto the drum, there isdeliberately imparted to the yarn stored on the drum a certain amountoftwist.

Since the yarn, however, is always withdrawn from the drum whilethelatter is substantially stationary, the identical amount of twist isimparted in the opposite direction to the yarn during the withdrawal fora net effect of zero twist Anexample of such improved storage feeder isshown in application Ser. No. 136,939, assigned to the assignee hereof.One of the main problems encountered, however, in a storage feederwherein the yarn is wound about a drum is that of keeping the drumrelatively stationary, since the manner of winding and unwindingthe yarnonto the drum makes it impossible to fixedly support the drum inconventional manner. In our above" mentioned patent application Ser. No.136,939, preventing rotation of. the storage drum' is accomplished bythe .use of a weighted drum, or the useof an eccentrically mounted drum,or the use of planetary gearing. While saidmeans for preventingrotation, as well asmagnetic means, are technically feasible, theyrender the storage feeder relatively complex, cumbersomeand above allvery costly SUMMARY. OF THE INVENTION.

site endof the drum where itreverses directiomtravels through the drum,and leaves the drum in a direction opposite tothedirection of movementof the accumulating yarn windings on the storage drum. Such withdrawalofthe yarn by reversing its path from the outer periphery of the drumthrough the central aperture thereof defines a path forthe yarn whichdoes not interfere with the mounting of the storage drum at one endwhich the winding takes place; a

Such arrangement further facilitates the overall manner forfeedingthe'yarn to a yarn winding element, and providingthe rotationalpower to said winding means.

In addition, the inside of the drum, which is either hollow or centrallyaperture d, defines a chamber for mountingthe means for controlling therotation of the yarn winding means in order to maintain a predeterminedquantity of stored yarn on the drum.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the storage feederis easily converted to a positive feeder wherein yarn may be fed to aknitting machine at a fixed predetermined rate directly related to therate of rotation of the knitting machine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONOF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of astorage feeder in accordance with the invention, with parts broken awayfor purposes of illustration;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 2, illustrating theoperation of the switching device for controlling the storage feeder;

FIG. 5 is a schematic showing of an electrical circuit for controllingthe quantity of yarn stored on the drum;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing another means for controllingthe operation of the storage feeder, in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 6, further illustrating theoperation of the controlling means;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing another embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. '9 is a view similar to FIG. 4, showing yet another embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. I0 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing a modification of theinvention enabling use thereof as a positive feeder;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along lines l1ll of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary portion, on an enlarged scale, of amodification of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 8 but modified to enable the inventionto be used as a positive feeder.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to theembodiments shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, numeral 10 identifies thestorage feeder in accordance with the invention. The storage feeder 10includes frame member 12 which is adapted in any suitable manner to beaffixed to the knitting machine. Frame member 12 fixedly supports atubular member 14 which, in turn, fixedly supports storage drum 16.Accordingly, when storage feeder 10 is mounted in position on theknitting machine by securing frame member 12 thereto, the storage drum16 is fixed against any movement, rotational or otherwise. Storage drum16, as best seen in FIG. 2, comprises a hollow cylindrical member closedat one end by wall 18 and open at its opposite end. Tubular member 14extends through a central aperture in wall 18 and is then flanged as at20 for securement to wall 18, in any conventional manner. It isunderstood that tubular member 14 and storage drum 16 could be formed asa unitary member rather than as two separate parts affixed to eachother.

For reasons which will become clearer hereafter, the open end of storagedrum 16 is provided with a peripheral annular member 22 of generallyhemispheric cross section. Drum 16 is of generally uniform outerdiameter which terminates, adjacent the closed end thereof into agenerally conical section 24. A hollow cylindrical member 26 whichenvelops storage drum 16 is mounted for rotation about tubular member 14by means of ball bearings 28. Cylindrical member 26 is apertured as at30, generally confronting the conical section 24 of the storage drum. Ayarn guide member 32 is provided on the outer periphery of member 26,adjacent the open end thereof. Yam from a supply thereof (not shown) isfed through a conventional yarn tensioning device 34 past yarn guide 36,through yarn guide 32 and aperture 30 where it is in confrontingrelation with the conical section 24 of the storage drum. Upon rotationof cylindrical member 26, the yarn passing through aperture 30 is woundupon the conical section 24 whereby the turns 37 wound onto the storagedrum gradually move towards the free end of drum 16 as ro tation ofcylindrical member 26 continues. While drum 16 is illustrated as havingconical section 24 for advancing the windings on the drum, it will beundersto? that other means may be provided on the drum for a vancing theyarn windings in the same direction, while still maintaining the drum,per se, fixedly mounted at one end thereof onto the frame as shown inFIG. 2. For example, the drum may be provided with portions whichmovably engage the yarn after it is wound thereon for advancing thewindings on the drum, while the drum itself is fixedly mounted on theframe.

Withdrawal of the yarn from the storage drum 16 is effectuated as bestillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, where the path of withdrawal is shown bythe arrows. More specifically, under the pull exerted by the knittingmachine needles, the yarn stored on drum 16 travels along the outerperiphery of the storage drum towards its open end, around annularmember 22 whereat the yarn reverses direction, through the hollowstorage drum and the path defined within tubular member 14, and towardsthe knitting machine needles which exert the pull on the yarn.

It is seen, therefore, that cylindrical member 26 defines the means forwinding the yarn about the fixed storage drum. In order to providerotation for cylindrical member 26, it is provided with a gear 38 inmesh with gear 40 mounted for rotation on a shaft 42 supported in frame12 by means ofball bearings 44. A

magnetic clutch 46 carried by the frame is adapted,

when energized, to interconnect shaft 42 with a shaft 48 which carriesbelt driven pulley 50. Accordingly, upon energization of magnetic clutch46, as more fully discussed below, rotation of pulley 50 is transmittedto winding means 26 through the intermediary of meshing gears 38 and 40.

In order to control the minimum and maximum quantity of yarn to bestored on the storage drum, there is provided a feeler 52 resilientlyurged outwardly of storage drum 16 through slot 54, as best shown inFIG. 3. F eeler 52 is mounted for pivotal movement as at 56 and isprovided with a tail portion 58 movable therewith but electricallyinsulated therefrom. When feeler 52 projects through slot 54, (when suchslot is not covered by yarn windings 37 as shown in FIG. 2,) tailportion 58 is in engagement with a contact element 60 secured to wall 18of the storage drum. As the yarn is wound onto the storage drum,advancing the yarn windings 37 in an axial direction towards the openend of the storage drum, the leading windings will cover slot 54,

thereby urging feeler 52 inwardly, as best shown in FIG. 4, in whichcondition the pivotal movement of feeler 52 causes displacement of tailportion 58 from its engagement with contact element 60. When thewindings grammar/ ea from the storage drum, and expose slot 54,feeler52lwill again be urged outwardly causing renewed contact betweentail portion 58 and electrical it contact 60. Thus it is seen that tailportion 58 and electrical contact; 60 collectively define a switch whoseopening and closing is a function of the yarn stored on the storagedrum.

The operationof the switch defined by tail portion 58 of feeler 52 andelectrical contact element 60 mounted on grounded storage drum 16 isshown in circuit diagram, FIG. 5. In accordance withthis circuit, theclosing of switch 58-60 provides current flow from positive terminal ofDC supply. 62 which is grounded, to contact element 60 which is equallygrounded, through feeler tail portion 58, limiting resistor 64, chargingcondenser and back to negative terminal of DC supply 62. There is alsoacurrent path established through resistor 68, the triggering legoftransistor amplifier 70, and back to the negative terminal of DCsupply 62. Such current flow through the triggering circuit oftransistor amplifier 70 renders 'the latter conductive with current Iflow as follows: from grounded positive terminal of DC supply 62, togrounded terminal of relay 72, through transistor amplifier 70, and backto negative terminal of the DC supply. The resulting energization ofrelay 72 closes a pair ofconta cts 74 to energize magnetic clutch 46,causing winding means 26 to rotate about the drum to provide additionalyarn thereon. As the winding of additional .ya rn onto the drumcontinues, ultimately reaching slot 54, the yarn will urge feeler 52inwardly causing the opening of switch 58-60. This, however, will notimmediately interrupt the conductivity of transistor amplifier 70 sincethe charge on condenser 66 .will "discharge into the triggeringcircuitof transistor amplifier 70 to maintaincurrent flow therethroughand ofthisarrangement provides for muchgreater control and f lexibilityin the utilization of the storage feeder. FlG.4 showsthe condition ofthestorage feederupon expirationof the timedelay,in which-conditionapredetermined maximum amount of yarn has been stored While FlGfsillustrates an electronic time delay circuit for selectively controllingthe amount of yarn wound onthe drum, such time delaycan be obtained,

within the scope ofthis invention by other types ofelectricalorelectronic circuits, as well as by mechanical or thermalmeans, all of whieh can provide a selective andadjustable time delayforthe aforementioned purposes.

" 1 FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate another means for controlling theminimumand maximum quantity of yarn'to be stored on the storage drum.More specifically, the fixed storage drum 16 is p rovide dadjacent endwall 18 thereof with a photocell 76 and at the opposite end thereof,within the hollowness of annular member 22,

of which intersect at a point 84 along the inner surface of windingmeans 26; In this connection, it is understoodthat the inner surface ofwinding means 26 is generally light reflecting and, since winding means26 is adapted to rotate, point84defines a circle along the innerperiphery of said winding means. In acg dance with the arrangement ofFIG. 6, the light ray ing from light source 78 will be reflected off theinner surface of winding means 26 and impinge upon photocell 76 toactivate the latter. Thus, elements 76-78 define a switch which is theequivalent of previously described switch 58- 60 in FIG. 5 operating inprecisely the same manner. When the added turns wound onto the storagedrum cover slot 80, as shown in FIG. 7,

of the storage drum. Sucharrangement has been found desirable because itprevents any entanglement between the winding means, which rotatesintermittently, and the yarn wolmd onto the drum and travelling duringits withdrawal from the drum. More specifically, the

rapid rate of withdrawal of the yarn may, under certain circumstances,provide aballooningeffect, and, with thearrangement described above, anyballooning yarn engages the smooth inner surface, of the winding member, thus preventing any undesirable entanglement.

conical section 24 of the storage drum. Rotation 00f winding means 26 isaccomplished precisely in. the

same manner as previously described in connection with winding means 26for winding the yarn onto the storagedrum. Such arrangement can be aseffective as that shown inthe embodiment of FIG. 2 wherel the speedsinvolved and spacing between winding means,

andfixed drum are such that no entagnlement islikely to occur. l i

As has been shown in "theembodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2, annular member 22defines the meanscfor guidingthe yarn duringthe reversal of itsdirection as it is withdrawn. Accordingly, annular member 22 has aSmooth outer surface which is shaped so as to provide the change ofdirection to the yarn in a gradual manner. Furthermore, annular member22 also controls the path of the yarn inside the drum, thereby definingwithin thehollowness of the storage drum a chamber free and clear fromthe path ofmovementof the withdrawn yarn. Suchchamber is desirable asitprovides theroom for mounting themeans for sensing the quantity ofyarn onthe storage-drumasshown in FIGS. 2 and 6. It will be understoodhowever, that, from a functional standpoint, the outer rim of thestorage drum, as best shown in the embodiment of FIG. 9, could besufficiently smooth andchave sufficient curvature as shown at 22' tosatisfactorily. guide the yarn during its reversal as it isbeingwithdrawn. As shown in FIG. 9, such arrangment would still providesufficient room inside drum 16 for mounting feeler 52 and its associatedmechanism;

The most salient feature of the subject invention,

present in all the embodiments described and illustrated herein, is theprovision of a storage drum which is absolutely stationary by fixedlymounting it directly onto the frame. Such arrangement has heretofore notseemed possible because of the resulting problems of entanglement of theyarn either prior to its winding onto the drum, during its withdrawalfrom the drum, or both. This has been resolved in accordance with allthe embodiments of the present invention by regulating the path oftravel of the yarn in such a way that there is no possible interferencewith the travel of the yarn, while still maintaining the drum fixed in amost effective most economical manner, namely, by fixing one end thereofto the frame. In this connection, reference is made to FIG. 1 from whichit is clear that the yarn which is fed from beyond the free end of thedrum is guided by the winding means 26 (or 26') to the end of the drumwhich is secured to the frame. As the winding means rotate about thestationary drum to form the stored windings upon the drum, there isclearly no in terference from the yarn supply, nor any problem createdby the fact that the end adjacent which Wino-2: takes place is fixed,since the as they formed, move as a body towards the free end of thedrum. As the yarn is withdrawn, it is evident from FIG. 1 that it movesalong the outer periphery of the drum 30 in a path which is clearlyspaced and thus in noninterfering relation with the yarn supply. Whenthe yarn reaches the free end of the drum, it reverses direction andpasses internally of the drum, through an aper ture in the frame, as itis being pulled by the needles. Thus, the final path of the withdrawingyarn totally removed from the yarn supply, and from the rotating windingmeans, without however creating any problem in withdrawing the yarn fromthe feeding device, directly through the frame, in a direction oppositeto the direction of yarn supply, as desired, for normal operation of thestorage feeder.

The simplicity of construction and of operation render the subjectinvention highl effective as well as extremely economical. Further, andwith reference to FIG. 2, it will be noted that the arrangement of thesubject storage feeder is such .hat drive means for winding means 26, oras, a: ldirecrly onto the side of the frame the side which carries thewinding means ano storage drum, again without interference with the yarnsupply or the withdrawn yarn, since the latter exits the feeding devicethrough tubular member 14, and is thus isolated from the drive means. Itwill be noted, with reference to FIG. 2, that instead of using beltdriven pulley 58 for driving winding means 26, through magnetic clutch46, the shaft 4-8 can be connected directly o drive motor, or to anothertype of clutching While the embodiments c. L9 have been described inconnection with yarn being fed to a knitting machine, the sameembodiments are applicable for use in connection with yarn filarn" tbeing fed to weaving apparatus or to a spooling a n this tion the yarnor filament" rreci to herein may be made of naturalv or synthetic fibersor may be metallic.

It will also be noted that in all the embodiments of FIGS. 1-9, the flament travels in a first direction (downwardly viewing FIGS. 1 and 2)toward a position adjacent the end of the drum which is fixedly mounted,at which end the filament is wound onto said drum forming windings whichadvance in a second direction, opposite the first direction (upwardlyviewing FIGS. 1 and 2). The wound filament is then drawn off andproceeds in the second direction up to the other end of the drum, whereit reverses direction, travelling through the internal passage of thedrum and an aperture in the frame member, thereby proceeding again inthe first direction towards the machine to which the stored filament isfed. in this connection, it will be understood that the characterizationof the first and second direction as used herein is not limited togeometrically linear directions which are precisely apart from eachother but directions which are generally opposed to each other, such asupwardly and downwardly as shown in the illustrated embodiments, or fromleft to right and from right to left if the device of FIG. 1 weremounted so that the axis of the drum was horizontal instead of vertical.

The embodiments of FIGS. 1 through 9 illustrate the invention used as astorage feeder wherein a predetermined quantity of filament is alwaysavailable to be withdrawn axially of the storage drum at a rate and atintervals such as may be demanded by the machine requiring suchfilament. Certain knitting applications, however, require positivefeeding of yarn, i.e., the continuous feeding of yarn at a predeterminedrate which is directly proportional to the speed of the knittingmachine. An example of a positive yarn feeding device is shown in US,Pat. No. 3,090,215 wherein the yarn fed to the knitting machine passesbetween a roller and a tape whose linear speed is directly related tothe speed of the knitting machine.

In accordance with the present invention, the feeding device describedin FIGS. 1 through 9 is easily converted to a positive feeding device asbest shown in FIGS. 10 through 13. In FIGS. ll) and 11, there is shown afilament feeding device identical in all respects to that shown in FIGS.1 and 2, except-only for the provision in cylindrical member 26, thefilament winding member, of an aperture 92 through which the filamentleaving the drum passes before entering the passage within the storagedrum 16, as shown. Accordingly, it is clear that member 26 which windsthe yarn onto one end of drum l6 simultaneously unwinds the yarn passingthrough aperture 92, and at exactly the same speed. Thus, yarn is beingfed to the knitting machine at a fixed and uniform rate, since thepresence on the drum of a plurality of yarn windings prevents anyslippage thereof. Since in any positive yarn feeding application therate of yarn supply is related to the rotation of the knitting machine,pulley 50 is belt or tape driven by drive means directly related to therotation of the knitting machine. lt will also be understood that whenthe device operates as a positive feeding device, member 26 must becontinuously rotating, with the yarn being tangentially wound onto thedrum at exactly the same rate as it is beingunwound by the drum, whilemaintaining constant the amount of yarn on the drum. Such continuousrotation will prevail by unwinding the yarn from the drum when thenumber of windings thereon is insufficient to activate feeler 52, asshown in FIGS.

it and 11. Continuous rotation can also be maintained by providing inthe circuitry of FIG. 5 a switch across switch sass which is closed whenthe device is intended to operate as a positive feeding device thusshorting out switch 58-60 and maintaining magnetic clutch 46continuously energized throughout the operation of the feeding device asa positive feeder.

Thus it is seen that by merely threading the withdrawing yarn throughaperture 92 in the winding member and maintaining continuous rotation ofwinding member 26, the storage feeder of FIGS. 1 and 2 has beenconverted to a positive yarn feeding device. In this connection, it willbe noted that aperture 92 may be provided with a narrow slit extendingto a peripheral edge of the winding member to enable threading throughaperture 92 without breaking the yarn, with i i the mouth of the slitbeing appropriately closed by plug 96 after threading has beeneffectuated as shown in the modification of FIG. 12.

It will be noted that the general filament path when the device is usedas a positive feeder is similar to the path of the filament when thedevice is used as a storage feeder, wherein there is no interferencebetween the yarn, supply to be wound onto the drum and the yarn beingunwound from the drum. While aperture 92 is shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 assituated diametrically opposite to yarn guidemember 32, such is notnecessary as the two may be situated in much greater proximity to eachother without creating any entanglement or interference.

Referring now to FIG. 13, there is shown an embodirnent similar toFIG. 8wherein winding member 88 is provided at its free end with an innerguide aperture 98 through which the yarn is fed for converting. theembodiment of FIG. .8 into a positive feeding device. In suchembodiment, though the yarn being wound is in close proximity to theyarn being unwound by winding means 88, there is no entanglementtherebetween.

Thus, it is seen that the novel filament feeding device in accordancewith all of the preferred embodiments are easily convertible from astorage feeder in which the stored yarn is withdrawn axially or endwiseinto a positive feeding device in which the filament is positivelyunwound at a uniform rate.

While there is herein shown and described the preferred embodiments ofthe invention, it will be undetstood that the invention may be embodiedotherwise than as herein specifically illustrated or described, and thatin the illustrated embodiments certain changes in the details ofconstruction and in the form and arrangement of parts may be madewithout departing from the 10 underlying idea or principles of thisinvention within the scope of the appended claims. l

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secureby letters patent is:

l. A device for positively feeding yarn from a yarn package to a textileproducing machine, comprising:

a. a frame adapted for securement to said machine,

b. a yarn storagemember,

c. support means having a passage therethrough fixedly mounted on saidframe means and having secured thereto said storage member with one ofits ends proximate to said frame member and the other of its ends distalthereto, whereby said storage member is fixed against rotation relativeto said frame member,

d. yarn winding means mounted for rotation on said support means betweensaid frame member and said storage member, and having first yarn guidemeans for winding said yarn about said storage member adjacent said oneend thereof, for forming on said storage member a plurality of yarnwindings which advance toward the other end of the storage member, saidyarn being withdrawn from said yarn package in response to the rotationof said yarn winding means,

e. said yarn winding means having second yarn guide means spaced fromsaid first means and movable in unison therewith for unwinding saidfilament at the same angular velocity as the winding velocity,

f. said storage member having an internal passage in communication withthe passage through said support means whereby the yarn unwound fromsaid storage member travels toward the other end of said storage member,reverses direction, and enters said passages in said storage member andsaid support means, respectively, as said yarn is delivered to saidmachine,

g. said yarn winding means comprising sleeve means extending axially ofsaid storage member and substantially covering the yarn windings on thedrum, and said first and second yarn guide means being adjacent theopposite ends, respectively, of said sleeve means.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein there is further providedmeans carried by said frame member for rotating said yarn winding means.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,782,661 Dated January 1, 1974 Inventor(s) Jose Castillo Deniega andEdward M. Teilerman It is certified that error appears in theabove-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are herebycorrected as shown below:

Column 10., line 41, "drum" should read storage member Signed and sealedthis 30th day of July 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

MCCOY M. GIBSON; i i C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatehts Foam PO-10S0 (10-69) USCOMM-DC GO376-P 69 U.S. GOVERNMENTPRINTING OFFICE IQ! O3i33|

1. A device for positively feeding yarn from a yarn package to a textileproducing machine, comprising: a. a frame adapted for securement to saidmachine, b. a yarn storage member, c. support means having a passagetherethrough fixedly mounted on said frame means and having securedthereto said storage member with one of its ends proximate to said framemember and the other of its ends distal thereto, whereby said storagemember is fixed against rotation relative to said frame member, d. yarnwinding means mounted for rotation on said support means between saidframe member and said storage member, and having first yarn guide meansfor winding said yarn about said storage member adjacent said one endthereof, for forming on said storage member a plurality of yarn windingswhich advance toward the other end of the storage member, said yarnbeing withdrawn from said yarn package in response to the rotation ofsaid yarn winding means, e. said yarn winding means having second yarnguide means spaced from said first means and movable in unison therewithfor unwinding said filament at the same angular velocity as the windingvelocity, f. said storage member having an internal passage incommunication with the passage through said support means whereby theyarn unwound from said storage member travels toward the other end ofsaid storage member, reverses direction, and enters said passages insaid storage member and said support means, respectively, as said yarnis delivered to said machine, g. said yarn winding means comprisingsleeve means extending axially of said storage member and substantiallycovering the yarn windings on the drum, and said first and second yarnguide means being adjacent the opposite ends, respectively, of saidsleeve means.
 2. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein there isfurther provided means carried by said frame member for rotating saidyarn winding means.